Automatic lamp-controller.



H. EHLEN.

AUTOMATIC LAMP CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I, 1914.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

H. EHLEN.

AUI'OWAHC LAMP cowmuuzn.

APVHCAHON FILED APR. 1, 914. 1,175,248. .lutvmwl Mar. H, 19145 2 SHEETS 'SHEET 2.

a nuzwho'o UNITED STATES PATENT anion.

HENRY. EHLEN, OF COVINGTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATIC LAMP CONTROL COMPANY, OF'DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

AUTOMATIC LAMP-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Paton ted Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed April 1, 1914. Serial No. 823,848.

of the UnitedStates, residing at Covington,

in the county of Miami and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Lamp Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicle lamps and particularly to means for automatically controlling-the movement of the lamp whereby the shaft of light will be immediately varled with each deviation of the. vehicle froma straight path. I

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as the means and mode of operation of such devices whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more efficient in use, positive and automatic in action and unlikely to get out of repair. i lVith the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the

parts and combinations thereof and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevationof an automobile of popular construction, to which the automatic lamp controller, forming the subject matter hereof has been applied. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the steering connections ofthe automobile and the actuating connection of the adjustable laiup.- Fig. 3 is a'vertical sectional view of the assembled lamp support. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the adjusting arm, Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the lamp support with the adjusting arm and lower bearing removed. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the lower bearing cup.

' Fig. 8 is a 'bottomplan view of the support with the adjusting arm removed.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several lamp is maintained in almemcnt with the views.

In the drawings there is shown an automobile of ordinary and popular construction of which 1 is the front axleand 2-2 the guiding wheels which are pivotally connected with the axle l by the usual knuckles 3. The knuckles 3 are oscillated in unison about their connections with the axle 1 by means of radial operating arms 4 connected one with the other by a transverse connecting rod 5. Connected with the rot 5 by means of a universal joint 6 locate adjacent to one end thereof is a pitman 7 connected at its opposite end by a similar universal joint 8 with the crank or rock arm 9 carried by. the steering post 10. Thus at each oscillation of the steering post 10 and its connected crank or arm 9, the pit-man 7 is reciprocated to effect a corresponding.

reciprocation of the transverse connecting rod 5 which in turn causes the oscillation of the guiding wheel 2-2 about the pivotal connections of the knuckles 3 with the axle 1. This is the usual steering mechanism of this particular type of automobile and forms no part of the present invention. Ashoreinafter described the, lamps'are connected to operate in unison with the movement of the steering apparatus before mentioned.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide improved means for inde pendently operating the oscillatory lamps in accordance with the deviation of the vehicle from a straight path. The construction and arrangement is such that so long as the vehicle travels in a straight, path both adjustable lamps will be maintained in positions to direct their shafts of light straight ahead in the path of travel.

However should the vehicle be turned to the right the corresponding lamp will be automatically oscillated in unison with the turning of the wheels but to a greater degree-than the angle to which the forward or guiding Wheels are turned, thereby directing the shaft of light from the right hand lamp into the region toward which the vehicle is being turncd while the opposite lamp is maintained in a position to direct its shaft of light straight forward in alinement with the vehicle. Upon turning to the left, the operation is reversed and the left hand lamp being turned in unison with but to a greater degree than the initial angular position of the wheel while the right hand vehicle body. I am aware that such constructions or devices for accomplishing the same results are well known in the art. One of the difficulties heretofore experienced and which have been overcome by the present invention is the tendency of such devices to rattle or chatter and to eventually work loose as a result of the constant jar and vibratio'n to which they are subjected. Applicant has overcome this difiieulty byprorid ing extended bearing sleeves and widely spaced bearings and" by a harmonious arrangement of the operating parts, whereby any looseness or play. will be minimized and the general operation of the device materi ally improved.

In construction of the lamp support there is employed an elongated stationary bearing sleeve 11, having'at its lower end an enlarged counter bore or chamber bearing sleeve 11 is preferably though not necessarily provided -with an integral lug or arm 13. by' which it may be supported upon any suitable portion of the vehicle. \Vith the particular type of vehicle shown in the drawing it ha's been found convenient to attach the bearing sleeves 11 to the ago nal basis 14 hy wl'ii'eh the tenders 16 are supported. ,Loosely ournaled in the slee e '11 isan oscillatory shaft 16 carrying at its upper end the usual for]; or U shaped frame end of the sleeve 11 there provided a flanged cup'or ball race 29 which projects Within the recess 12 with a peripheral flange" bearing upon the extremity of the sleeve 11.

Projezting radially fromthe shaftll} at a point adjacent to the top of the chamber or recess 12 is a stud 24. Projectinginward from the walls of the recess 12 in angular spaced relation one with the other and in a plane common with the stud 24 are two cor v "sh-aft 1G .wherfli if engagement of the stud 24 tl'ierewith, limit the oscillatory movement of the responding studs 25 and 26 wh' by the;

either direction,

revolubly adjustable within thereoess 12, the flange of the cup being provided with plurality of holes one of which ma;

e engaged over a pin 30 projecting from" the face of the sleeve 11 to hold the viz-, 92 to its adjusted position Tl justment of the cup 22 serves, to spring '27 under tension.

Carried by a shaft 16 adjacen to the cup I. A have the This . and =hy the-further. r o A. helical spring 2; surrounds the l8 within the recess or chamber 12 one end of' said spring 27'being engaged with the stud 24 carriedby the shaft 16 and the other end ofthe spring" being engaged with the cup Inthe drawing the cup 22 has heen shown provided with a hole 28 for the receptionof the end of the spring 27. The cup is;

i. revvluhle ad 5 a eorr sponding bearing cone 31, While ali at-eut thereto and secured to the shaft '16 is a reee sed eollar In the drawing the bearing one 1; and the retessed collar, .32" have n shown integral and connected.

with the shaft by'means of a radially disposed a flange ofth'e collarandextending into the shaft 16. between (heeone 31 and the cup or race 22.-

This construction provides widely separated journal bearings for-the sliaft l6 ob viating any-tendency for any 'loose'ness or play to he magnified by the leverage oi the fork l7 upon which the lanip is'supported. The location otQspring 27 intermediate the hearings-of theishaft l6 .hz'isjbeen found of (dope-ration; e i p: a

Looselyjouriraled upor'f theextension of the she ft 36pm: .cti ng'below the sleeve 11 aiiilextending ithin 32 is'an elongateds'le )from which pro 'dlialiarz'n .ll1e"i'1pper end of the I lfl'fl'fllhltjil .withl'alwi le not- "1187 within whichthe dd k the shaft 16 engages y ids Lima sui mnteuly one fourth. the periphei ll'hegslfl v material "edveii'trege and .i .-1 -ilitates the ease I l l l 1 V I l l be ained by-the noteh' 37. T $l(-\-'e'- 35 dud the stud. oi showuiir- Fig; 5' p p i v. Thdconstruow n is siml that the spring 37f 'i'vhioh has -=;bee i,i plizleed und r tension .h the revoluhlcfiCljilstiiieh the cup iif t nds. to hold the stutiQg ;i n-.' Tn geiiient Withthe corresponding stud 2U. 'If'the arm 36 and the-sleete 35. are oscillated inonegdireetion theiriiiariveneent ill/lie;independentlof the I the are rotated n the thefsiioi' lllt" formed v 3741i} en f th e;.s'tiid or pin 32" i v pnt of the arms the will henotiited with zi'gaiiist the tension lot riotar ""hio-venilent of the -t i vf t is moverl s ud of stop Q 5 iindfitowa i'd Pith friipve'meift islimited. Emmett the" sleeve, upon the. spring 'sol" g \ii]l. reti1r'n the is again in tit 3:i1iu'sd the shaft to magnify the ide along: heardiifi; to iuinimum.

e ibed are ar-VV 5 hi "each pair he rel tion of. the I is clearly U onthe r ei-feeling and the ar zn llfi the t? 2'? ie hen. ri n g hetween the sl 1:; iiin'lilli il any tendon loosen or qun'engagi'ng the peripheral Bearing walls 33 are interposed The 10H? i recess "of the collar Ye therebypermitting the r sleeve and-arm 36;:m wide zeg'i'dent oscillatory rention is not limited to any being assembled right and left, that is, the spring 27 is connected in reversed direction and the stud or pin 32 is 1w located in relation with the notch ll that the operative movement of the parts of the respective members forming the pair will he in opposite direction. lhat is. in one pair tnifree movement of the sleeve 37 and arm ll and the direction in which the sp n; l? tends to rotate the shaft are toward ihe left and in the other member both ihcsrmovements :il'v toward the right. The operating arna 11' of the respective lamp Mlpport are coma "ted one to the other to move in liaison by a transverse connecting rod 2%, The construction and arrangnaneut aie Fl' 'll that when the rod 38 is reciprocated in one llll\:ll lll one of the sleeves 35 will he os illated in a eh rcl tion to engage the stud or pin 15 and w ill thereby cause the c n-respoinlinu' shall lh t be rotated in uniaon againd the tension oi the spring 27 while the oricsponding sleeve 35 ot the other member of llztpair w i l oscil late away from the vstud or pin lz! and independent of the shalt. When the connecting rod 38 is reelprocaled in the opponte diiec tion the operation of the respective, mcnihcrs of the pair will he reversml. To reciprocate the connecting rod its ther is u-midcd an intermediate linh I3) pivoted at it) to the reciprocatory (mum-tin rod ll and ha ing; a pivotal connection ll with the pitinao T of the steering apparatth. 'llnu, each i-ecip rocatory movement of the pitiuzin I sary to adjust the guide whe ls will ca :1 corresponding' iccipi'ia-aoa v nov zn nl the connecting linl; Ir to .hijiinl th lam}? support correspondingi' i the i which the vehicle is bcin g lorned. in b 2 the parts have been shown hr dotted Qnes in an operated position. the vehicle being turned toward the right and the right lainp being correspondingly oscillated.

*lll' lion in It is to be noted however that the diagonal direction of the shaft of light from the lamp shown in the dotted lines is not parallel with the Wheels, but is cast at an acute angle therewith whereby the shaft oi light will be directed to a region beyond the plane of the wheel.

From the above description it will he apparent that there is thue, pnd lltl l a lli\ ice of the character described, posseseiin: the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable but which obviously in susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detail construction or arrang ment of arts, without departing from the princip e involved or sacrificing any of its ad vanta es; I

\Vhiledn order to comply with the statute. the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to certain struotiura features, it is to be understood that the i l-- specific deta ls,

but that the means and li \"l'l rt(l :omprh-w but one tlu invcniioo into climb the inven i n is thi-rclorc claiincd roadly in any of its possible towns or nualilicatioi-n-i within the scope of the appended claims.

llaving thus described my claim:

l The combination with a vehicle lamp. ot an oscillatory shal't upon which the lamp i s arried. an elongated tati r narily mount c l ll(\\ in which the shall is iotirnalcl. a helical apt in within the l clc interm diate the bearings ol' :-Zl,i'l shall and animunlling the whal'l onnected at one end to the shalt and a rcinluble collar vapahh of being; inl rengaglcll with the sleeve in dill'erent posiliom oi rotar; a ii taunt with which th oppmilc 'lnl n all --pri:i; engaged and an nperaiing lll i' piiotcd up n the shalt 'apahlc ol :1 liinilcd ocillalonv in vcin nit iinlcpeihicni olthc shalt but capable oi adlitional movement in nnison with the shalt Il ':1llll lill\lillFllllltll llltfilll'llltr.

'1. The combination with a vehicle lamp of an oacillatorv shall on which the larnp is carried. an elongat d stalionaiily inmlnted sleeve in which 1h ahal't i iotc'nahal and having in one end a counter hurt of greater diameter than the halt. a stop lllt'llltilllg radially from the ahat't hin the chamber f -pp l liy' llg lllllltl lililtX tibll'fililUhtilllg vstop nropa-lingy into the said chamber from consl il 'lhill lnj-H'ill model pulling and in\ ention, l

vanving lllc tension ot' the spring independent. of the shall, the movement of the shaft in r lation with the Hl tH being limited by the engagement ol the stops, and an operating: lever for the shalt.

3. The combination with a vehicle lamp of an oscillatory shaft on which the lamp is carried. an elongated statk'marily mounted sleeve in which the shaft is journaled, a spring against the tension of which the shaft is rrw'oluhly adjustable. a stud carried by the shaft. an elongated slcmo jonrnaled ion the haii miliaacut to the. stud having xlen-lr! ,--i- 'n=.r-n al notch in one end thereof eng,;'a; in;5 me: he stud, and an operating arin carried by the sieeun the constrnction and arrangement. being such that the sleeve is tree for iiuliqmndeat osci' atiOll within the inits of the segmental slot but further ad stinent ol' the sleeve will cause the shaft to be rotated in unis-Lin therewith aga nst the tension oi the spring.

i, The combination with a vehicle lamp of an oscillatory shaft, on which the lamp is carried. an elongated stationariy nr'iunted aleew in which the shaft is i urnaled, a

spring against the tension of which the shaft 

